Two American vocal-orchestral works in the Bernstein-Barber tradition.

Stephen Paulus' Voices was premiered in November, 1988 by the Minnesota Orchestra and the Dale Warland Symphonic Chorus. Commissioned by the Association of Clinical Pastoral Education, Paulus fund the most difficult part was finding words which would impart a spiritual message with power and purpose while not alienating anyone because of his or her own particular religious faith. He turned to the words of Rainer Maria Rilke, which seemed to him to impart both a timeliness and power that was fitting. Songs of Eternity was composed by James Hopkins in memory of David Lee Shanbrom whose life was tragically cut short in an automobile accident. The text is a poem by Indian author Rabindranath Tagore. Although the poems relate to some aspect of death, the prevailing mood is one of subdued joy in eternal life. Commissioned by the Orange County Philharmonic Society to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the Pacific Chorale, the work was given its premiere by these forces. Two major choral-orchestral works by two very significant American composers.

Review:

"Voices was commissioned in 1988 by the Association of Clinical Pastoral Education for a conference of ministers, priests, rabbis and pastors who work with people from the street... Songs of Eternity was composed to honor the 25th anniversary of the Chorale... In both, the texts serve as focal points to which Paulus and Hopkins have composed appropriate music which dramatically enhances the words... performances are first-rate... Recommended." (InTune)